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Chase Elliott’s Crew Chief on Daytona 500 Heartbreak: “It Doesn’t Haunt Me, But I Want It”  

Publisher by Publisher
February 8, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Chase Elliott’s Crew Chief on Daytona 500 Heartbreak: “It Doesn’t Haunt Me, But I Want It”  

Feb 17, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott (9) talks with his crew chief Alan Gustafson as they work to ready his car before practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Elliott is on a mission—and after a dominant Clash victory at Bowman Gray, his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team has momentum heading into the 2025 Daytona 500. But for crew chief Alan Gustafson, one thing remains missing from their storied resume: a Daytona 500 win.

While HMS has built a dynasty, Elliott has yet to conquer the Great American Race—a fact that looms over the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion’s career. However, despite the pressure and expectation, Gustafson remains unfazed.

“That is definitely a race I’d love to win, but it’s never really haunted me.”

Why? Because for Gustafson, some of NASCAR’s other marquee events carry more prestige when it comes to defining Hall of Fame careers.

“If you look at some of our other marquee events, those races really have more of a Hall-of-Fame win list – the Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400.”

Still, make no mistake—Daytona 500 glory is a priority.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to win it.”


Daytona 500: A Race of Speed & Luck

Winning at Daytona isn’t just about having the best car—it’s about surviving the chaos, playing the draft, and catching the right breaks.

Gustafson acknowledges this reality:

“As a competitor, there are a lot of moving parts, and it needs some amount of luck and a lot of fortunate circumstances to happen to win the race.”

With pack racing, wrecks, and unpredictable finishes, even the strongest cars aren’t guaranteed victory.

However, following their record-setting 171-lap domination at Bowman Gray, the No. 9 team has renewed confidence.


Hendrick Motorsports’ Daytona Strategy: Qualify Strong, Execute in the Duel, Attack the 500

Gustafson has laid out the blueprint for Elliott’s Daytona 500 weekend—and it all starts with qualifying up front.

“We all know the magnitude of that race and everything that goes on throughout the week.”

Key Priorities for the No. 9 Team

✅ Bring a lightning-fast NAPA Chevy
✅ Nail qualifying to start near the front
✅ Perform well in the Daytona Duels to secure a strong grid position
✅ Be in the right place at the right time for the final laps of the 500

“Just looking to go down there and have a really fast NAPA Chevy, qualify well, and race the (Daytona Duels) well to put ourselves in a position to win the DAYTONA 500.”


Can Elliott Finally Capture Daytona 500 Glory?

Elliott has had fast cars at Daytona before, but fortune hasn’t been on his side.

🏁 2021 Daytona 500 – Finished 2nd, nearly winning in a photo finish
🏁 2023 Daytona 500 – Early crash ended his race
🏁 Multiple Duel wins, but still searching for his first Daytona 500 victory

Now, with Hendrick Motorsports’ momentum surging, 2025 could be the year he finally breaks through.

“The team has a new level of confidence and focus ahead of the race.”


Final Take: Elliott’s Defining Moment?

The Daytona 500 is one of the only things missing from Chase Elliott’s resume—and 2025 could be his best shot yet.

🔹 Hendrick Motorsports is off to a dominant start
🔹 The No. 9 team is laser-focused on execution
🔹 If luck finally swings in their favor, Elliott could make history

With Gustafson’s strategy in place, the only question left is: Can Elliott finally seize his Daytona 500 moment?

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